There are trends to follow, and a lot of talented photographers out there to take some inspiration from. And, with the right preparation, there’s no end to the possibilities.

But the question remains: what baby photograph trends are in for 2018, and which should you be looking out for?

Not to worry – today, we’re bringing you six of our absolute favorites.

The Signs Have It

If you’re looking for a sign to help you along in your photography, how about a sign to help you along in your photography?

Here’s why signs are so successful as a baby photography prop, and one of our favorite 2018 trends:

babies can’t speak

photographs can’t capture sound

a well-written sign makes these first two points moot

Get a chalk sign. For best results, get a few different signs, in different sizes, with differently-colored frames. Write something cute or adorable, or just a quote from something cute and adorable, and pose it near your baby’s head. This style of photo will work better if your child is asleep.

Then snap away! With some luck, you’ll create the effect of your child saying something endearing, deep, or plain old sarcastic. A win!

Progressions

When it comes to children, one of the best and worst parts about them is that they eventually grow up into full-sized people. We love that they’re healthy. We hate that every inch they grow means they’re one step closer to eventually leaving us.

Turn this emotionally confusing biological process into something really cute. All you need for a wonderful set of progression pictures is a camera, a baby, and a background setting you’re able to use, repeatedly.

Set a reminder to take a picture of your baby against the same background every day, week, month, or minute (if you’re really committed). Remember to set this reminder – you will forget, no matter how great of a parent you are.

The point of the photo is to record their growth in consistent increments, so make sure you get every photo you set out to get. On the other hand, if you miss a day, just take one the next day – we won’t tell.

The end result – a comprehensive diary of your child’s growth – will be enchanting.

Photoshop Madness

There’s no getting past it. Photoshop is essentially magic, and the people who use it are wizards.

Still, you’d be amazed at the sorts of tips and tricks you can pick up from a handful of simple YouTube videos and blogs written by 11-year-olds.

Wherever you get your training, the end results of a Photoshopped baby photograph are captivating. Use a green screen (or green blanket) and put your baby in space! Add a centurion’s helmet and drop them into ancient Rome.

We’re not in any way suggesting you actually put your children in dangerous situations. But a half hour on the computer could put your baby in the middle of Avengers 2! Adorable!

Parent Pals

Another one of our favorite baby photography ideas right now is shots of babies with their parents, palling around.

Sound a little boring? Well, we’re not talking about standard shots of your baby balanced blandly on one knee, for heaven’s sake! We mean a shot of dad looking confusedly around the kitchen while baby peeks out of the top of a nearby pot. Or mom doing yoga while baby tries feverishly to put a foot in her own mouth.

If you like Star Wars, this is a great opportunity to put your baby in a Yoda hat, and carry them around on your back like Luke Skywalker. If you’ve been growing vegetables, stage a photograph to look like you just plucked a human baby out of your cabbage patch.

Pet Clones

And, while we’re being adorable, why should mom and dad get all the fun?

If you have a beloved family pet who can behave for short periods of time, bring him or her into the photo shoot and get ready to make magic happen.

Pro tip: this works especially well if your dog is huge and your baby is still really little.

Matching outfits. Nothing (and we mean nothing) in the world is cuter than a fresh-faced baby and his dog pal dressed in matching business suits. Or a little bow-tied cutie pie and her cat lounging about in identical radish costumes.

Even something as simple as a pair of matching shirts can do the trick. Get busy matching your little guys and girls, and get ready for great photography!

soft cotton flowers, to make it look like your baby is lost in a field of daisies

animal ears, to turn your child into a sleepy lion, sleepy bird, or a regular sloth

a tiny guitar, to create the illusion your child is a bizarre musical prodigy

pots, pans, and a chef’s hat, for obvious Gordon Ramsey photo ops

an open book that is far above their reading level. Suggestions include:

War and Peace

Lord of the Rings

A Tale Of Two Cities

And, when it comes to birthday photography, the props available for these shots are even more plentiful. Balloons, party hats, confetti and baby-sized pinatas can all be purchased and combined for a fun party flavor.

Do Baby Photography Right, In 2018

In 2018, the cuter your baby photography can go, the better.

Luckily for you, there are some amazing trends out there to follow and inspire you to your own great ideas. With the right combination of props, cooperative babies, and timing, you can create something amazing.

Interested in more great mommy articles? Maybe you’re looking for something from the wellness, fashion, finance or tech sectors instead. However you do it, check out some of our other content, and transform your home and life today!

About Us

Welcome to ABC at Home! The woman/parenting/homeschooling/entrepreneur resource brought to you by a busy, but efficient mother! I write articles about travel, business, finance and many more subjects for stay-at-home parents (yes, that includes men too) so that our kids can thrive as much as we do.